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Cleaning, Organizing, and Life Hacks

    Cleaning, Organizing, and Life Hacks

    Four Home Emergencies That Need An Expert To Save The Day

    Hello and welcome back to another post in my Home Ownership 101 Series! While we like to DIY most of our projects around here, there are certain times when you simply must call the experts in. While it may seem expensive at first, the amount of money, time and headache your can save by allowing someone else to do the job can often be well worth it. Read more

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    Cleaning, Organizing, and Life Hacks

    Home Improvement 101: Four Ways to Be a Better Homeowner

     

    If you own a home then you know it can require a lot of hard work on your part to keep it looking nice. I never realized how much there is to do until we bought a second home and were renovating it while trying to get our current home fixed up to put on the market and at times it was quite overwhelming!

    Of course everyone gets a little overwhelmed with the tasks involved with home ownership, but putting them off can lead to problems down the road.  Here are  four ways to be a better homeowner so you can keep up with all the important tasks and to-dos. 

    • Know What You Can & Can’t DIY

    You may be someone who enjoys doing things yourself around the house. This is a positive but you should also know your limits and when to call the pros. For example, you may be able to replace a light fixture or fix a broken floorboard on your own. However, a task such as annual furnace maintenance should be left up to the experts. They know what they are doing and can handle the tune-up process for you to avoid any complications. It’s all about understanding what is feasible for you to fix and knowing when it’s best to reach out and contact a pro in the area.

    • Keep Up with Repairs

    You can be a better homeowner by keeping up with repairs. You don’t want to let necessary fixes go for too long. Otherwise, you risk the issue getting worse and have a bigger problem on your hands down the road. Go around your home to take inventory and make note of what needs your attention the most. After you make a list you can start to prioritize and budget properly for the repairs that need to be done. Your home will look better and will be a safer place to live when you are good about keeping up with necessary fixes.

    • Makes Updates & Upgrades

    You want to be able to enjoy the home you are living in currently. It’s also possible that you are going to want to sell it in the near future and move. Therefore, consider putting some more effort into making necessary updates and upgrades. Some of the most important rooms to focus on are the kitchen and bathrooms. Making upgrades to these rooms will add value to your home and you’re likely to get a return on your investment. Now might also be a good time to think about putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls.

    • Reach Out to Your Neighbors

    You’re also going to have to deal with having neighbors in most cases as a homeowner. You can be a better homeowner by reaching out to your neighbors and being more friendly toward them. You never know when you will need a helping hand from them. It’s also good to look out for each other and watch over your properties for any suspicious behavior, especially when you are gone on vacation. You’ll enjoy living in your home more when you get to know those around you. 

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    Cleaning, Organizing, and Life Hacks

    The 4 Simple Ways to Start Living an Ethical Lifestyle

     

    If you feel that you want to be more ethical in how you conduct yourself, there are so many different ways to do it. Transitioning to an ethical lifestyle involves making conscious decisions based on your current actions and how you can be a better person overall.

    Choose Sustainable Purchases

    There are so many sustainable purchases in the world. Products like eco-friendly lab diamonds can form the basis of your jewelry but there’s also everyday products like washing powder that can be more sustainable and use organic ingredients. When choosing sustainable products you need to find the brands that align with your personal values.

    Be Aware of Your Digital Footprint

    We can all talk about the impact of our carbon footprint and there are tools that can help you to find out this, but you also need to be conscious of your online behavior. Your digital footprint can contribute to your carbon footprint, but on the topic of being ethical, you need to be aware of what you put out into the world. If you are constantly commenting on people’s posts and sign up for marketing emails, try to be more conscious by limiting screen time and unsubscribing from any unnecessary emails. We have to set an example, especially for younger kids, and being more responsible without electronic devices also means we’re not feeling that constant compulsion to check social media.

    Identify What Your Values Really Are

    It’s important to reflect on what actually matters to you and therefore you can tailor your behaviors accordingly. If you are more concerned about the environment, you can then progress down this route and learn about ethical or sustainable practices. You can also start to understand the implications of your personal choices. When we identify our values, it doesn’t just mean that we can live a more ethical lifestyle, but we can learn how to be truer to ourselves and feel authentic while saving the world in our own little way.

    Eat Ethically

    You may choose to grow your own organic food but you can also purchase sustainably sourced or locally produced foods where you can. You can also choose plant-based options over meat, but you need to determine where your boundaries lie. Eating ethically is a lifestyle choice that many people are not ready for. But when you grow your own food, you can choose more sustainable approaches to reusing these items. For example, by freezing or canning fruits and vegetables you are becoming less wasteful. You can embrace a zero-waste mindset in many ways, for example by reducing and reusing items, but when it comes to food, if you can make everything go further this also has a benefit on your wallet.

     

    Living an ethical lifestyle is an ongoing journey. Don’t feel like you need to do everything all at once. It can take a long time and those gradual steps are what matters. Make sure that as you progress, you are understanding the impacts of making those positive choices that align with your beliefs. An ethical life is about progress, not perfection. Focus on steady improvement over time rather than trying to transform overnight. Small consistent changes do make a difference!

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